Refrigeration apparatus



June 9, 1942. M. KALISCHER REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES:

want

v MIILTON K INVENTOR I ALJSCHER June 9, 1942. I M. KALISCHER 2,235,946

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 50, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: 98:4 INVENTOR da; 86 D87 MILTONKALISCHER.

F a a? g ATTOR Y June 9, 1942.

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 27 24 I &1 I /o I 4/ 25 29 I v 59 3? 3 [1:1 Eff- 35 FAN MOTOR MA/N SW/TCH I /3 L2 Moro/e COMPPESSOI? M Fig. 4.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR w 777 MILTON KALJSCHER,

- I ATTORN M. KALISCHER Patented June 9, 1942 2,285,946 REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Milton Kalischer, Longmeadow, to Westinghouse Electric &

East Pittsb Company, Pennsylvania urgh, Pa.,

Mass., assignor Manufacturing a corporation of Application December 30; 1939, Serial No. 311,845

' 14 Claims.

My invention relates tus and therein.

It is another object of my invention to provide improved apparatus for removing excess moisture from the high humidity compartment of a refrigertor.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a novel control for the temperature and humidity of a refrigerated enclosure.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved high humidity refrigerator utilizing motor and the fan motor of a high humidity refrigerator to effect improved control of humidity therein.

These and other objects are effected by my inapparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of Description of Figs. 1 and 2 An evaporator or cooling element I4 is disposed in the evaporator compartment I 2 and is connected by suitable conduits to tor is connected to the rear a refrigerating unit generally indicated at l5 disposed in the machinery compartment. The refrigerating unit l5 includes a sealed casing l6 enclosing a main motor I! which drives a compressor (not shown). The compressor withdraws refrigerant vapor from the evaporator l4 through a conduit provided for this purpose and compresses it into a condenser l8 where the highpressure refrigerant is cooled and liquefied, aided by air blown over the condenser by a cooling fan l9 driven by a motor 20. Condensed refrigerant is thenfed to the evaporator H through a capillary tube flow-restricting device 2|, after which the refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat.-

The cycle is then repeated.

The high humidity compartment II is formed by a liner 22 which is spaced from an inner the evaporator.

The high humidity chamber H is primarily cooled by conduction of heat through the metallic liner 22 to the air in the passageway 24 in the following manner. The

ing space 33. A fan 31 driven by a motor 38 is disposed in the passageway 24 in registry with the fan inlet opening 36. A second opening 39 in the top wall 29 of the inner liner 22 establishes air pressure zone.

extends across the top of the inner liner 22 and down its sides almost to the bottom thereof.

Air is, therefore, drawn into the evaporator chamber l2 through the upper opening- 39, passes over the outer surfaces of the imperforate walls 34 of the evaporator l4, thence. over the inner surfaces of the imperforate walls 33 to the fan inlet opening 36. The air in passing over the cold evaporator is cooled and dehumidified, it being preferable that the fan motor 38 and the main motor I! be energized at the same time, as explained hereinafter. Cold air from the fan 31 is discharged over the entire exterior surface of the rear wall 3| of the inner liner 22, this part of the passageway 24 constituting a high The bafile 4| guides the cold air to the bottom of the inner liner 22, and, as

* shown by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2, the cold air isconveyed along the bottom, up the sides and over the top of the inner liner 22 to the upper opening 39 therein, thus completing the air circuit. It is to be notedthat the cold, dry air does not enter the high humidity chamber l1 and that the air pressure in the passageway 24 progressively decreases from the point of discharge at the fan to the upper opening 39 in the inner liner 22. Furthermore, the high humidity compartment II is cooled primarily by conduction of heat through the metal Walls thereof to the air in the passageway 24. This air flow system is described and claimed in copending application, Serial No. 295,710, filed September 20, 1939, by Theodore W. Rundell, and application, Serial No. 320,042, filed February 21, 1940, by Martin G. Sateren, both ,of which are assigned to the Westinghouse Electric 8: lVllanufacturing Company, the assignee of the present application.

A control device generally indicated at 42 effects operation of the refrigerating unit l and the fan 31 when the temperature in the high humidity compartment rises to a predetermined degree and renders the fan and refrigerating unit inactive when the temperature therein drops to a predetermined degree. A control bulb 43 filled with a volatile refrigerant is disposed in the high humidity chamber II and reflects the temperature thereof by causing a control bellows 44 to expand and contract. The bias of the bellows 44 is opposed by a spring 45 and movement of the bellows is transmitted to a lever 46 which operates an over-center snap-acting mechanism 41 to open and close contacts 48 and 49 which are connected to a line L3, L41, thus energizing and deenergizing main motor l1 and fan motor 38 in response to the temperature in the compartment H. An adjusting device 50 changes the bias on spring 45, thus changing the temperatures in compartment H at which contacts 48 and 49 open and close.

In accordance with this embodiment of my invention, openings 5 l, in the rear wall 29 of the inner'liner 22 and establish communication between the high-pressure zone of passageway 24 and the interior of the compartment The openings 5| and 52 are adjacent the top horizontal wall 29 of inner liner 22 on each side of the evaporator shroud 28 and the opening 53 is adjacent the bottom of a storage receptacle 54, which is positioned close to the bottom of the shroud 28. The horizontal surfaces of the wall 29 and of the storage receptacle 54 tend to collect moisture which may drip on foods stored in compartment l and affect them deleteriously, while if moisture col- 52 and 53 are provided lects on other surfaces of the inner liner 22 it will drain to the bottom thereof without harming foods. A small opening 55 may be provided in the bottom of liner 22 to drain moisture into the passageway 24 Where it is absorbed by the dry air therein and deposited on the evaporator M, which is periodically defrosted, a suitable pan being inserted in the evaporator compartment |2 under the evaporator M for this purpose. A similar drain for excess condensate is disclosed and claimed in a copending application of John H. Ashbaugh, Serial No. 301,354, filed October 26, 1939, and assigned to Westinghouse Electric 82 Manufacturing Company.

Openings 56 and 51 are disposed near the top of the liner 22 in side walls thereof and establish communication between the high humidity compartment II and the low-pressure zone of the passageway 24. A damper generally indicated at 58 and including a plurality of flaps 59 is operated by a solenoid 6| electrically connected to a humidostat 62,which is disposed in the high humidity compartment ii. If the humidity in compartment becomes too high, the humidostat 62 effects energization of the solenoid 6| which operates damper 58 and lowers flaps 59, so that all of the openings 5|, 52, 53, 55 and 51 are opened.

A circulation of air N is, therefore, established from the high-pressure zone of passage 24 through openings 5|, 52 and 53, across the horizontal surfaces of the upper wall 29 of the innerliner 22 and the lower surface of food container 54, then through openings 56 and 51 into the low-pressure zone of passage 24. The velocity of the air so circulated depends on whether the fan 36 is operating or not, it being obvious that a greater amount of air will circulate in a given time with the fan operating than if thermosyphonic circulation alone is depended upon. The air which enters the openings 5|, 52 and 53 is cold and dry, having just passed over the cold evaporator l4 and, therefore, has relatively great capacity for absorbing moisture. After the air from openings 5|, 52, and 53 has absorbed moisture from the aforesaid horizontal surfaces and from the air in the high humidity compartment ll, and has passed through openings 56 and 51 to passage 24, it again passes over the evaporator I4 where the moisture is condensed and, if the evaporator i4 is suf'liciently cold, as it is when the refrigerating unit I5 is operating normally, the moisture is frozen on the evaporator.

When the humidity of the air in the compartment II is reduced to the desired value, the damper 58 closes the openings 5|, 52, 53, 56, and 51 through the action of the humidostat 62 and solenoid 6|. Considerable quantities of the free moisture on the upper Wall 29 of the high humidity compartment 22 and on the lower surface of food compartment 54 will also have been absorbed. Air is thereafter circulated through passage 24 without entering the high humidity chamber H, but it is to be noted that, when the damper 58 is open, the air circulation through passage 24 and over the evaporator i4 is not materially affected, only relatively small amounts of air being circulated through the high humidity compartment even when the fan 56 is operating. However, the humidity in compartment H is properly controlled and excess free moisture is removed therefrom, both resulting in better and safer food storage conditions since too high a relative humidity deleteriously affects some foods as does dripping of free moisture.

The wiring diagram shown in Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment of my humidity control, the same elements being used as in 2 except that the damper 58 and damper solenoid 8| may be dispensed with, as shown in Fig. 4. When this is done, dry air circulates into and out of the high humidity compartment II at all times through the openings 52, 53, 56, and 51; thermosyphonically when the fan 38 is not operating and by forced circulation when it is. Under some conditions, however, the degree of humidity and free moisture in the compartment I I may still be too high and the present embodiment of my invention is designed to correct such a condition. Briefly, it comprises operating the fan 38 in response to a humidity condition in compartment II even when the refrigerating unit I5 is inactive because the temperature in the high humidity compartment II is at a satisfactory low value.

Referring specifically to Figs. 3 and 4 for a detailed description of the second embodiment of my invention, I have illustrated the main motor I1 for the refrigerating unit as a single phase motor having a starting winding II and a. running winding 12. As 'shown, the main motor I1 produces a polyphase output to drive fan motor 38, which is of the two-phase type having an auxiliary winding 13 and a running winding 14. A starting relay 15, the main thermostat 42, the humidostat 52 and a capacitance 80 complete the elements of the circuit. The starting relay is provided with one set of contacts 16. The main thermostat 42 is provided with two movable contacts 11 and 18 and four stationary contacts 8|, 82, 83, and 84 and the humidostat 62 with one movable contact 85 and two stationary contacts 88 and 81.

When the temperature in the high humidity compartment II reaches a predetermined high value, the bulb 43 and bellows 44 effect closing of the movable contact 11 and fixed contacts 8| and 82 of the main thermostat 42 and also causes movable contact 18 to engage stationary contact 83. The starting relay contacts 16 are also closed by a solenoid, the winding of which is shown at 88, due to the surge of current drawn by the running windings of the motors I1 and 38 on starting. The running windings 12 and 14 are, therefore, connected directly across line L1, L2 through a conductor 3| connecting the movable contact 11 with line L2 and through conductors 92 and 93 connecting the running windings 12 and 14 respectively to contacts 8| and 82 and line L1.

Since the starting relay contacts 16 are also closed at this time, the starting Winding 1| of the main motor I1 is connected directly across line L1, L2 through conductors 94 and 92, contacts BI and 11 and conductor 3|. Auxiliary winding 13 of fan motor 38 is connected across line L1, L2 through conductor 85 through contacts 83 and 18, conductors 96, 94, contacts 16, conductor 92, contacts =8| and 11 and conductorBI.

After the main motor I1 has come up to speed the current in solenoid winding 88 is reduced and starting relay contacts 18 open. The windings 1| and 13 are, therefore, no longer across the line L1, L2, but winding 13 of the fan motor 38 thereafter receives power by induction from the starting winding 1| of the main motor I1 through conductors 94, 88, contacts 83 and 18 and conductor 95. The fan motor 38 Figs. 1 and forms, it will be therefore runs as a two-phase motor, the main motor I1 delivering one of the phases. It is desirable to utilize a two phase fan motor because of reliability and cheapness. During operation of the refrigerating unit I5, therefore, dry air is being circulated through the high humidity compartment I I and its humidity is being reduced and free moisture is being removed therefrom, the air circulation being the same as described with respect to the first embodiment of my invention.

In accordance with my invention, when the main thermostat contacts 11, 8|, and 82 are opened because a desired low temperature is reached in compartment II, the fan 31 is still operated or again starts to operate if the humidity in compartment II is To accomplish this with a two-phase fan motor it is necessary to provide the capacitor 88 to supply out-of-phase power to one of the wind ings 13 of the fan motor 38.

When the humidostat contacts 85, 86, and 81 are closed, contacts .18and 84 of the main thermostat will be closed only if the movable contact 11 thereof is in the off position, as shown in Fig. 3. A circuit is then established from line L2, through contacts 85 and 81, through capacitor 80, through contacts 84 and 18, through conductor and winding 13 to line L1. A second circuit is established from line L2, through contacts 85 and 86, through conductors 91 and 93 and through running winding 14 to line L1. It is clear, therefore, that fan motor 38 will start and run when the main thermostat contacts 11, 8|, 82 are open. Excess humidity and free moisture will therefore be removed from the high humidity compartment II by the dry air circulated therethrough in the manner set forth above, the circulated air being dried by contact with the evaporator I4 which is normally cold enough to condense moisture even when the refrigerating unit I5 is not operating.

If the contacts 11, 8|, motor 38 is energized as 82 are closed and fan a two-phase motor in the manner described, and thdhumidostat contacts 85, 85, 81 close, nothing will occur because contacts 18, 84 will be open and contacts 18, 83 closed, so that power of a different phase than that induced by main motor I1 cannot be supplied to winding 13 of the fan motor 38.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided an improved high humidity refrigerator and control therefor.

While I have shown my invention in several obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a refrigerator cabinet, a cooling element disposed in the cabinet for cooling and dehumidifying air circulated thereover, a substantially enclosed chamber formed of a material providing a' small thermal drop therethrough disposed in the cabinet, a passageway surrounding at least a portion of said chamber for the circulation of said cool and dehumidified air and embodying a relatively high pressure zone and relatively lower pressure zones, said chamber marily by the conduction of material to the air in said passage, whereby a at too high a value. 1

said chamber to a lower relatively high humidity is maintained in said chamber, means responsive to the humidity in said chamber for establishing a circulation of said dehumidified air from said high-pressure zone of said passage to said chamber'and from pressure zone of said passage, and means for forcibly effecting said circulation at least part of the time.

2. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a refrigerator cabinet, a cooling element disposed in the cabinet for coolingand dehumidifying air circulated thereover, means for forcibly circulating said air over the cooling element, a substantially enclosed chamber formed of a material providing a small thermal drop therethrough disposed in the cabinet, a passageway surrounding at least a portion of said chamber for the circulation of said cool and dehumidified air and embodying a relatively high pressure zone and relatively lower pressure zones, said chamber being cooled primarily by the conduction of heat through said material to the air in said passage, whereby a relatively high humidity is maintained in said chamber and means for effecting a forced quantity of said dehumidified air from said highpressure zone of said passage to said chamber and from said chamber to a lower pressure zone of said passage.

3. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a refrigerator cabinet, a cooling element disposed in the cabinet for cooling and dehumidifying air circulated thereover, means for circulating a refrigerant through said cooling'element, means for rendering said circulating means active or inactive, a substantially enclosed chamber formed of a material providing a small thermal drop therethrough disposed in the cabinet, said chamber having openings formed therein, a passageway surrounding at least a portion of said chamber and embodying a high pressure zone and lower pressure zones, means for effecting a forced circulation of said cool and dry air through said passageway, said chamber being cooled primarily by conduction of heat through said material to the air in said passage, whereby a relatively high humidity is maintained in said chamber, and means for intermittently effecting communication between said high pressure zone and said chamber to afford forced circulation of said dry air from said high-pressure zone to said chamber and from said chamber to a lower pressure zone without substantially affecting the circulation of air over the evaporator.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein there is provided temperature-responsive means for starting and stopping saidl refrigerant circulating means and said air circulating means, and wherein the means for intermittently effecting said communication includes means responsive to the humidity in said chamber which is effective at times when said temperature responsive means has rendered both said refrigerant and air circulating means inactive as well as when they are active,

5. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a refrigerator cabinet, a cooling element disposed in the cabinet for cooling and dehumidifying air circulated thereover, a substantially enclosed chamber disposed in the cabinet and formed of a material providing a small thermal drop therethrough, a passageway surrounding at least a portion of said chamber for the circulation of said cool, dry air and embodying a high pressure zone and. lower pressure zones, said circulation of a relatively small chamber being cooled primarily by the conduction of heat through said material to the air in said passage, whereby a relatively high humidity is maintained therein, said chamber embodying a horizontal surface on which moisture is likely to collect and having an opening adjacent said surface communicating with the highpressure zone of said passage and another opening communicating with a lower pressure zone of the passage, so that said cool, dry air is first circulated from said passage directly over said surface to absorb moisture therefrom and then is circulated back to said passage and over said cooling element which, in turn, absorbs said moisture from the air.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein means are provided for forcibly circulating air through said passageway and over said cooling element.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the circulation of said cool, dry air through said high humidity chamber is controlled in response to the humidity therein.

8. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a refrigerator cabinet, a cooling element disposed in the cabinet for cooling and dehumidifying air circulated thereover, a substantially enclosed chamber disposed in the cabinet and formed of a material providing a small thermal drop therethrough, a passageway surrounding at least a portion of said chamber for the circulation of said cool dry air, a fan for circulating said cool dry air over said cooling element and through said passageway, thereby providing a high pressure zone and lower pressure zones, said chamber being cooled primarily by the conduction of heat, through said material to the air in said passageway, whereby a relatively high humidity is maintained in said chamber, said chamber being provided with openings communicating with said high-pressure zone and a lower pressure zone of said passageway, respectively, so that said cool, dry air is circulated through said chamber when the fan is operating to absorb moisture therefrom, a refrigerating unit for circulating refrigerant through said cooling element, temperature-responsive means for rendering said refrigerating unit and said fan active or inactive, and humidity responsive means effective independently of said temperature-responsive means for rendering said fan active or inactive when the refrigerating unit is inactive as well as when it is active to control the humidity in said chamber.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein an opening between the high-pressure zone of said passageway and said high humidity chamber is arranged adjacent to a horizontal interior surface of said chamber on which moisture collects, so that said moisture is adsorbed by said cool, dry air.

10. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a refrigerator cabinet, a cooling element disposed in the cabinet for refrigerating the same, a refrigerating unit for circulating refrigerant through said cooling element, a fan for forcibly circulating air over said cooling element and through the cabinet, temperature-responsive means for rendering said refrigerating unit and said fan active and inactive in response to a temperature condition of the cabinet, and humidity responsive means effective independently of said temperature-responsive means forrendering the fan active and inactive regardless of the operafan active and inactive regardless of the operarefrigerating unit in response to a humidity condition in the cabinet, said humidity means including means for operating therein,

storage pan in the upper portion of said chamber having a lower surface on which moisture tends container to absorb said moisture.

13. The combination claimed in claim 12 wherein the flow of air through said openings is controlled in response to the humidity in said chamber.

14. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a refrigerator cabinet, a cooling element disposed in the cabinet for cooling and dehumidifying air circulated thereover, means for circu lating a refrigerant through said cooling eleof air over said cooling element, and means for forcibly creating said flow through said chamber at least part of the time said apertures are open.

MILTON KALISCHER. 

